Tuesday, 19 March, 2024
HomeMedico-LegalWSU students guilty of murder of final-year medical student

WSU students guilty of murder of final-year medical student

Four Walter Sisulu University (WSU) students have been found guilty of the murder of final-year medical student Lwando Mantshontsho (23) in his room at the campus in May 2017.

A Daily Dispatch report says January Siphesihle Mafungwa (24), Yamkela Mxokozeli (26), Philani Danca (26) and Lwakhe Matakane (23) were found guilty by Eastern Cape High Court (Mthatha) Judge Buyiswa Majiki. They were convicted of the murder, two counts of attempted murder, three counts of housebreaking and malicious damage to property.

The two counts of attempted murder relate to Yamkela Jama and Khangelani Wilson, both senior medical students at the time of the attack, who were left injured. At the time of the killing, Mafungwa, Mxokozeli and Matakane were medical students in their fourth, third and first years. Kango was a first-year economics student and Danca a third-year education student.

The fifth accused, Sindile Kango (26), was found guilty of malicious damage to property. All pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The five men will be back in court for sentencing on 19 February.

Student Times wrote in an earlier report, at the time of Mantshontsho's death, that the murder prompted a request by the South African Medical Association (Sama) for the Presidency and Department of Higher Education to open an inquiry into the problems at WSU. “This type of behaviour by medical students is completely unacceptable and calls into question the processes employed in the selection of students to study medicine in that institution.

“We are extremely concerned about what is happening on this campus‚ and have for a long time noticed a steady descent in instability. Violence and disruptions of the academic and other programmes have become the order of the day instead of education. This is worrying‚ and must be addressed urgently‚” Sama chairperson Dr Mzukisi Grootboom said.

 

[link url="https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2021-01-19-four-wsu-students-found-guilty-of-2017-murder/"]Full Daily Dispatch report (Subscription needed)[/link]

 

[link url="http://www.student-times.co.za/2018/04/22/remembering-lwando-a-chronicle-of-a-death-foretold/"]Full Student Times report (Open access)[/link]

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